Beyond silicon: a roadmap for overcoming the five challenges (5Cs) in molecular computing

Molecular electronics, which utilizes individual molecules as electronic components, presents a promising alternative to traditional transistors, especially as we approach the physical and economic limitations of silicon technology. This “bottom-up” approach offers several advantages over the conventional “top-down” methods employed in silicon-based transistors over the past seven decades. However, constructing a molecular computer from individual molecular components introduces unique challenges that must be addressed. This review highlights five critical challenges in molecular computing, collectively called the 5Cs: concatenation, connectivity, crosstalk, compatibility, and cost-effectiveness. For each challenge, we outline the current technological issues, discuss the latest advances, and explore future research directions. We conclude by proposing a potential roadmap for developing the world's first molecular computer.